The current violence in the Gaza Strip is primarily a civil war being fought between supporters of Fatah/PLO (The Palestinian Liberation Organization) and the Iranian sponsored terrorist orgainization HAMAS (HAMAS stands for The Islamic Resistance Movement).

The following article outlines the peace negotiations that took place between the State of Israel and the PLO between 1993 and 1999 and the subsequent violence perpetrated by HAMAS in an attempt to disrupt the Middle East Peace process.

HAMAS is killing innocent Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and innocent citizens in Israel.

Ask yourself this question, “Why would any humanitarian organization refuse to allow the inspection of a shipment of goods, when such an inspection would guarantee that illegal arms could not be smuggled into an area and then used to kill the innocent civilians the “humanitarians” claim they want to help?”

Actions speak louder than words and the actions of these so called “humanitarians” betray their words!

Israel & The Gaza Strip 1993 – 2010

In 1993 the Government of Israel entered into negotiations with Yasser Arafat and the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization).

These negotiations went on for 6 years, until 1999, when the last of a group of agreements were signed that provided for “a transitional period of self rule” based on a “set of on reciprocal steps by the two parties” which were intended to result “in the creation of two separate and independent states“, one the Sovereign state of Israel and a second Palestinian State. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gz.html

The Principles that were first signed on September 13, 1993 state, “The Government of the State of Israel and the P.L.O. team (in the Jordanian-Palestinian delegation to the Middle East Peace Conference or the “Palestinian Delegation”), representing the Palestinian people, agree that it is time to put an end to decades of confrontation and conflict, recognize their mutual legitimate and political rights, and strive to live in peaceful coexistence and mutual dignity and security and achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement and historic reconciliation through the agreed political process. Accordingly, the, two sides agree to the following principles” http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Principles

The principles called for free and democratic elections supervised by a Palestinian Police Force (Article III): “In order that the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip may govern themselves according to democratic principles, direct, free and general political elections will be held for the Council under agreed supervision and international observation, while the Palestinian police will ensure public order.” http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Principles

Article 6 of the “principles” noted the limited transfer of authority to the Palestinian Authority, “Immediately after the entry into force of this Declaration of Principles and the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and Jericho area, with the view to promoting economic development in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, authority will be transferred to the Palestinians on the following spheres: education and culture, health, social welfare, direct taxation, and tourism. The Palestinian side will commence in building the Palestinian police force, as agreed upon. Pending the inauguration of the Council, the two parties may negotiate the transfer of additional powers and responsibilities, as agreed upon.” http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Principles

The Palestinian Authority was charged with certain responsibilities in Article VII: “In order to enable the Council to promote economic growth, upon its inauguration, the Council will establish, among other things, a Palestinian Electricity Authority, a Gaza Sea Port Authority, a Palestinian Development Bank, a Palestinian Export Promotion Board, a Palestinian Environmental Authority, a Palestinian Land Authority and a Palestinian Water Administration Authority, and any other Authorities agreed upon, in accordance with the Interim Agreement that will specify their powers and responsibilities. After the inauguration of the Council, the Civil Administration will be dissolved, and the Israeli military government will be withdrawn. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Principles

The Israeli Government retained certain authority over the Gaza Strip and West Bank in Article VIII: “In order to guarantee public order and internal security for the Palestinians of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Council will establish a strong police force, while Israel will continue to carry the responsibility for defending against external threats, as well as the responsibility for overall security of Israelis for the purpose of safeguarding their internal security and public order. The withdrawal of the military government will not prevent Israel from exercising the powers and responsibilities not transferred to the Council.” http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Principles”

The principles included provisions for the resettlement of individuals displaced by the 1967 Arab – Israeli War and laid the ground work for establishing relations between the “Palestinian Authority” and the Governments of Egypt & Jordan: “The two parties will invite the Governments of Jordan and Egypt to participate in establishing further liaison and cooperation arrangements between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian representatives, on the one hand, and the Governments of Jordan and Egypt, on the other hand, to promote cooperation between them. These arrangements will include the constitution of a Continuing Committee that will decide by agreement on the modalities of admission of persons displaced from the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967, together with necessary measures to prevent disruption and disorder. Other matters of common concern will be dealt with by this Committee”. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Principles

Prior to signing these accords on September 13, 1993, Yasser Arafat, Founder of the PLO and the “President” of the Palestinian Authority, made the follow statement on behalf of the PLO, on September 9, 2003: “The PLO recognizes the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security”. “Numerous leaders within the PLO and the PA, including Yasser Arafat himself, have declared that the State of Israel has a permanent right to exist and that the peace treaty with Israel is genuine”. “The text of the Palestine National Charter as amended in 1968 contains many clauses calling for the destruction of the state of Israel. In letters exchanged between Arafat and Rabin in conjunction with the 1993 Oslo Accords, Arafat agreed that those clauses would be removed. On 26 April, 1996, the Palestine National Council voted to nullify or amend all such clauses, and called for a new text to be produced. A letter from Arafat to US President Clinton in 1998 listed the clauses concerned, and a meeting of the Palestine Central Committee approved that list. A public meeting of PLO, PNC and PCC members also confirmed the letter in Clinton’s presence. Nevertheless, a new text of the Charter has never been produced, and this is the source of a continuing controversy. Critics of the Palestinian organizations claim that failure to produce a new text proves the insincerity of the clause nullifications.” QUOTES IN THIS PARAGRAPH ARE FROM THE OFFICIAL PLO WEB SITE: http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Palestinian_Liberation_Organization

THE CONFLICTING POSITIONS OF THE PLO

“Palestinians are no strangers to compromise. In the 1993 Oslo Accords, we agreed to recognize Israeli sovereignty over 78 percent of historic Palestine and to establish a Palestinian state on only 22 percent.” — Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian negotiator, August 5, 2000

In his April 22, 2004 interview with the Jordanian newspaper Al-Arab, the PLO minister still living in Tunisia Farouk Kaddoumi said that the PLO charter was never changed so as to recognize Israel’s right to exist. “The Palestinian national charter has not been amended until now. It was said that some articles are no longer effective, but they were not changed. I’m one of those who didn’t agree to any changes.” He said also: “…the national struggle must continue. I mean the armed struggle… Fatah was established on the basis of the armed struggle and that this was the only way to leading to political negotiations that would force the enemy to accept our national aspirations. Therefore there is no struggle other than the armed military struggle… If Israel wants to leave the Gaza Strip, then it should do so. This means that the Palestinian resistance has forced it to leave. But the resistance will continue. Let the Gaza Strip be South Vietnam. We will use all available methods to liberate North Vietnam.” http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Palestinian_Liberation_Organization

In early 2000 The Islamic Resistance Movement or HAMAS began rocket attacks and IED (improvised explosive device) attacks against Israel. Yes, the same IEDs used against American troops in Iraq & Afghanistan, IEDs manufactured in Iran. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas

HAMAS challenged Yasser Arafat’s authority to negotiate the 1993 agreements with Israel and has refused to recognize the “agreements” or to concede that the State of Israel or its Jewish citizens have a “right to exist”.

The decrease in violence following Arafat’s death was brief, with the attacks resuming in early 2005. By 2006, the violence reached proportions similar to that in Jordan in 1970 and Lebanon in the 1990’s, the violence is described by Arabs as the “Palestinian Civil War”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatah%E2%80%93Hamas_conflict

In February 2007 the PLO (Fatah) and HAMAS agreed to create a “Palestinian National Unity Government” or “NUG”, however, HAMAS continued its attacks in the Gaza Strip and in June 2007 HAMAS succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of PLO supporters were killed by HAMAS. The NUG was dismissed by the PLO and an independent government was formed by the PLO in the West Bank. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gz.html

At present Fatah (PLO) controls the larger West Bank, while HAMAS is in control of the Gaza Strip, a situation clearly not contemplated in the peace accords, which state that the West Bank and Gaza Strip shall be treated as a single political entity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatah%E2%80%93Hamas_conflict

In January 2009 the Israeli military re-entered the Gaza Strip in response to the increasing missile attacks by HAMAS on Jewish cities located along the Gaza border. Israel, had not, as is frequently misreported, surrendered the right to reintroduce a military presence into the Gaza Strip – The Palestinian Authority has never been granted the rights of an Independent State as it has never met its obligations under the Principles signed in 1993. After a 3 week operation in the Gaza, Israeli withdrew its troops before the end of January 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/03/middleeast-israelandthepalestinians

While HAMAS continues its fight against their Palestinian brothers in Fatah/PLO they also are smuggling arms and missiles into the Gaza Strip from Iran and launching attacks against Israel.

Contrary to what the American and International Press would have you believe, HAMAS does not represent all Palestinians nor does it represent a majority of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. A significant number of the HAMAS fighters are not even Palestinian or even Arabic but are instead Iranians and Persian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatah%E2%80%93Hamas_conflict

The Israeli Government made this comment 18 months ago, “”Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable”, “There must be monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure the smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end… I urge all parties to pressure HAMAS to turn away from terror and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/03/middleeast-israelandthepalestinians

The Obama Administration has been silent and failed to support the Israeli Government’s call for an end to the violence. The Obama Administration, unlike all previous American Administrations, has abandoned Fatah/PLO as the representative of the Palestinian People and has instead embraced the Iranian based HAMAS who refuse to even concede that Israel has a right to exist.

The United Nations reported that in one month alone HAMAS launched “some 800 rockets and mortar shells into Israel”. In February 2010, just 3 months ago, “The HAMAS government in Gaza on Saturday backtracked on its apology earlier this week in which it expressed regret for harming Israeli civilians in rocket attacks. The apology had signaled a rare deviation from HAMAS’ violent ideology, and the subsequent zigzag reflects the Islamic militants’ conflicting objectives. HAMAS, which seized Gaza by force in 2007, is trying to reach out to the West in hopes of winning recognition and getting Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza. However, HAMAS or The Islamic Resistance Movement is also reluctant to discard its violent ideology for fear of losing credibility at home.” http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/02/06/hamas-backtracks-apology-israeli-rocket-attacks/

THE CURRENT QUARANTINE OF THE GAZA STRIP

Today, June 2nd, 2010, Israeli is not conducting an “Economic Embargo” of the Gaza Strip as has been claimed.

Israeli has not enforced an “economic embargo” of the Gaza Strip since 2007 and HAMAS’ initial attack on the Palestinian Authority Government. That 2007 embargo was put in place at the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6768931.stm

The Governments of Israeli and Egypt have “blockaded” the Gaza Strip since June 2007 and the renewed civil war between HAMAS and the PLO (Fatah). Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to limit Palestinian rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on its cities and to prevent HAMAS from obtaining other weapons. Egypt maintains that it cannot open the Rafah crossing since opening the border would represent Egyptian recognition of the HAMAS control of Gaza, undermine the legitimacy of the Palestinian National Authority and consecrate the split between Gaza and the West Bank. The “blockade” concerns arms. Humanitarian aid still flows into the Gaza. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6768931.stm

Over $4.5 billion in aid was promised to the Gaza Strip in 2008 -2009. Remember, Gaza is the size of Washington D.C.. Unfortunately, HAMAS has prevented much of the aid from being delivered – not the story being reported on your evening news is it?

On 12 January, HAMAS raided some 100 aid trucks entering Gaza, stole their contents and sold them to the highest bidders. On 20 January, gunmen from HAMAS’ armed militant wing seized 12 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid that had been donated by the Jordanian government to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to Jordanian and Palestinian Authority officials. On 3 February, 3,500 blankets and over 400 food parcels were confiscated by HAMAS police personnel from an UNRWA distribution center. On the following day, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator demanded that the aid be returned immediately. In a separate incident on 5 February, HAMAS seized 200 tons of food from UNRWA aid supplies. The following day, UNRWA suspended its activities in Gaza. HAMAS issued a statement stating that the incident was a misunderstanding between the drivers of the trucks and had been resolved through direct contact with the UNRWA. On 9 February, UNRWA lifted the suspension on the movement of its humanitarian supplies into Gaza, after the HAMAS authorities returned all of the aid supplies confiscated. Some local Gaza NGOs providing emergency aid stated that HAMAS had ordered them to stop operating because it suspected they were affiliated with rival group Fatah. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%932009_Gaza_Strip_aid , http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/aidgaza.html .

Summary of Facts

1). Israel is not acting alone. Both the Israeli and Egypt Governments are enforcing a “blockade” of the Gaza Strip. A blockade not an economic embargo as is falsely claimed.

2). All shipments of goods into the Gaza Strip are searched before being allowed entry. The Israeli and Egyptian Governments are trying to prevent the illegal shipment of guns and rockets into the Gaza Strip, illegal weapons which HAMAS has used against both Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza.

3). HAMAS opposes the peace treaty brokered by Yasser Arafat (PLO/Fatah) between 1993 and 1999 and maintains their fanatical commitment to the destruction of Israel and the death of all Jews. A position frequently echoed by HAMAS’ main sponsor, Iran.

4) HAMAS has called for the destruction of not just Israel, but also of the PLO (Fatah) for what HAMAS calls the treasonous peace negotiations with Israel. Let us not forget that HAMAS has also called for “Death to America, The Great Satan”.

5). HAMAS has been guilty of misappropriating humanitarian supplies after they have reached the Gaza Strip and have prevented International Aid workers from distributing supplies to the villages HAMAS associates with the rival PLO (Fatah) group.

6). Israel violated no international laws when it boarded the ships at sea. Why these alleged “humanitarians” refuse to allow inspection of their cargo is beyond explanation. Why would any humanitarian group object to making sure that weapons had not been smuggled onto their ships? Weapons that might be used, not just against innocent Israeli citizens, but the innocent Palestinians as well, the innocent Palestinians the self proclaimed Humanitarians claim to want to help.

As HAMAS is actively working to destroy the Israeli Peace Process and to militarily defeat those Palestinians who want to pursue a peaceful co-existence with Israeli, why are these alleged “humanitarians” siding with Hamas? They are not siding, as they so frequently claim, with the peaceful People of Palestine.

A WARNING TO AMERICA’S JEWISH COMMUNITY: KEEP SUPPORTING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IF YOU WANT – JUST TELL YOUR RELATIVES IN ISRAEL TO PACK THEIR SUIT CASES – THE CATTLE CARS WILL BE LEAVING TEHRAN SHORTLY AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS WILLING TO STAND SILENTLY BY AND WATCH AS YOU ARE LOADED ONTO THE TRAINS AGAIN … HISTORY IS ABOUT TO REPEAT ITSELF … SUPPORT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO STAND ALONE. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STAND WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THOSE PALESTINIANS WHO DESIRE A PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE – THE OBAMA ADMINSTRATION DOES NOT.